The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM MASSIV study team, on Thursday 25th February 2020, organised an acknowledgement and result dissemination event at the Regional Health Directorate in Basse, Upper River Region.
The MASSIV trial aimed at establishing whether Mass Drug Administration with Ivermectin and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine can reduce or interrupt malaria transmission in medium to low transmission settings, by reducing vector survival and the human reservoir of infection.
In his opening remarks, Pa Cheboh Saine, the Unit’s Head of Operations in Basse said, “We appreciate the support and coordination of the RHD in URR. The support has been massive, and it has always been a successful collaboration. We look forward to continuing the strong relationship. We will work together to improve healthcare in The Gambia and West Africa”.
Prof. Umberto D’Alessandro, MRCG at LSHTM Director and Principal Investigator of the MASSIV study, spoke about the aims and objectives of the project, adding that “the study helped to identify the most socially-acceptable and sustainable ways of achieving and maintaining high coverage of mass drug administration with ivermectin and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, and of embedding it within local communities and stakeholders”.
The Director of the Regional Health Team in URR, Lamin Ceesay said, “MRCG at LSHTM is complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health to eradicate and eliminate malaria. MRCG at LSHTM focuses on the research, whilst the Ministry focuses on the preventive and curative aspects. So, there is that complementarity, especially in the introduction of new vaccines”.
In his closing remarks, Ebrima Baldeh, Regional Principal Nursing Officer thanked the MRCG at LSHTM for their valuable support and partnership with the Ministry of Health in ensuring great health care delivery in the country.
The MASSIV study was a cluster-randomised trial conducted in 34 villages in the Upper River Region of The Gambia. As part of the event, Officers in Charge, health facilities, and the Regional Health Team were awarded certificates of appreciation, in recognition of their invaluable support to the successful implementation of the MASSIV study.
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